Benefits of tongue exercise

The tongue is a relatively important part of the human body. It is generally located in the oral cavity. Its main functions are to make sounds, stir food, taste food, etc. Many people think that the tongue does not need to be exercised. In fact, the tongue is closely related to a person's overall health. Proper exercise of the tongue will have many benefits to human health. Next, I will introduce to you the benefits and methods of tongue exercises!

1. The connection between the tongue and the whole body

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the human tongue is closely related to overall health. Changes in the human body's internal organs, meridians, qi, blood, and body fluids can all be reflected on the tongue. Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners often use tongue diagnosis to observe the strength or weakness of internal organs, and the abundance or weakness of qi and blood. Therefore, regularly exercising the tongue can prevent the generation of evil fire, keep the five internal organs safe, and ensure the smooth flow of qi and blood, which is beneficial to curing diseases and keeping fit.

The tongue is one of the important organs in the oral cavity, attached to the floor of the mouth, the mandible and the hyoid bone. "Lingshu" said: "The lips and tongue are the basis of muscles." Traditional Chinese medicine generally divides the entire tongue into four parts: the tip of the tongue, the middle of the tongue, the root of the tongue and the sides of the tongue (both sides of the tongue). Its main functions are to sense taste, regulate sound, stir food, assist in swallowing, etc. At the same time, different parts of the tongue correspond to different internal organs. The tip of the tongue belongs to the heart, reflecting heart and lung diseases; the middle of the tongue belongs to the spleen, reflecting spleen and stomach diseases; the root of the tongue belongs to the kidney, reflecting kidney and bladder diseases; the edges of the tongue belong to the liver and gallbladder, reflecting liver and gallbladder diseases.

A normal tongue should be light pink, with a thin white coating, soft, flexible in movement, and of moderate size and thickness. Changes in the tongue and coating reflect visceral diseases.

2. Simple methods to practice "tongue skills" in life

Regular practice of "tongue skills" can cure diseases, strengthen the body and prolong life, and is beneficial to the human body's internal organs, meridians, qi and blood, and body fluids. Tongue function exercises can be performed through chewing, singing and conscious movements.

Chew slowly: Chew slowly when eating to help your tongue move better in stirring the food. Medical experts have found that the tongue can enhance the brain's memory when stirring food.

Singing for fitness: Singing regularly is beneficial to the activity of the tongue. The tongue has the function of regulating sound. Singing can increase tongue movement, thereby preventing and treating diseases.

3. Health care methods using tongue in famous Chinese medicine books

Red Dragon Stirring the Sea: First calm your mind, then move your tongue in your mouth continuously (this is called Red Dragon Stirring the Sea) to make the saliva in your mouth continue to increase. When your mouth is full of saliva, swallow it slowly in three mouthfuls. Gong Juzhong, a famous doctor in the Ming Dynasty, included a section called “Sixteen Methods to Prevent Diseases and Prolong Life” in his book “Honglu Dianxue”, in which the first important method is “Water Tide to Eliminate Future Troubles”. "Water tide" refers to saliva. When you wake up in the morning, concentrate and sit upright, lick your palate with your tongue, and saliva will come out like water tide. Swallowing saliva regularly can cure diseases and strengthen your body.

Tongue against palate and anus contraction: "Yuan Guan Zhen Di" said: "Whenever you lie down, press the tongue against the upper palate, look at the top of the head, lift and contract the anus, and swallow a mouthful of saliva. Do this several times and then lie down. This can cure frequent urination." It means that before going to bed every night, press the tongue against the upper palate, look inward at the Baihui point on the top of the head, lift and contract the anus, and swallow a mouthful of saliva. Do this several times and then lie down to rest. This method can cure frequent urination.

Tap the teeth and swallow the saliva: Leng Qian’s "Essentials of Longevity" says: "Tooth disease is caused by the fumigation of the spleen and stomach fire. Every morning when you wake up, tap your teeth thirty-six times, stirring the gums with your tongue. No matter how many times, you can swallow the saliva only when your mouth is full of saliva. Do this three times." If you persist in this method, you will never have any tooth disease.